National Sewing Machines - Rotary Machines

2. Rotary Machines – One bobbin cover plate to the left of the machine. Serial number at base of upright pillar or on the underside of machine

Model

Size

Body Shape

Spool Pin

Upper Tension

Stitch Length Control

Notes

Rotary A1

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Front

Bed Screw

(Eldredge Rotary) 1904-08 Early bobbin & case. The hook cover has curved edges, whereas all later
machines had rectangular hook cover plates.

Rotary A2

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Center Arm - Raised

Face Plate

Bed Screw - lever

(Pritzlaff)

Not Reversew (National's name for reverse sewing ability),
non-electric. Rotary machines manufactured after January 1st, 1916 use
certain slightly different parts eg tension and face plate.

Rotary A2

(no picture)

Full

Angular

Shoulder

Center Arm - Raised

Face Plate

Bed Screw - lever

Law p122

R41

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Center Arm - Raised

Face Plate

Bed Screw - lever

(R41) Modernized Rotary A c1948: Reversew, separate
reversing knob on bed. Non-electric.

Rotary B

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

Bed Screw - lever

Internal motor patented Oct. 5, 1920 by Charles H'Doubler, later
modifications. Electric, not Reversew.

Rotary 1100

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Center Arm - Raised

Face Plate

Bed Screw

(1100) Hand crank c1929.

Rotary 1120

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

(1120) Electric portable.

Rotary C

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

Pillar - lever

Electric model, motor not built in,
Reversew, krinkled finish. Light patented in 1935. Bed 14 5/8" long x 6
13/16".

R40

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

Pillar - lever

(R40) Electric, Reversew (no knob on bed
of machine). c1949.

Machine#32-16055(model name or number unknown. 32?)

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

Bed Screw - lever

(Princess) Features of R40 (electric Reversew without the reverse knob) and R41 (non-electric Reversew with the reverse knob, but without the central spool pin towards the center of the arm). Sub model version of the R41 with the Rotary B body. Separate reversing lever knob on bed.

RBRW

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate - inside

Pillar - lever

"Rotary Bobbin Reversew Wrinkle" finish
(or perhaps Ward instead of Wrinkle). Electric. Howard Barber's 1938/9
patented opening faceplate with hidden light design for Montgomery Ward
incorporated into this National model. Sold as Montgomery Ward.

RBR-2W

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate - inside

Pillar - lever

(RBR-2W) Reversew, electric.

N-50

¾ sized

Angular

Rear

Face Plate

Bed Screw - front

Made by Portman, not National, and sold under various names.
See Portman album in NeedleBar's Picture Library.

Rotary 'D'

¾ sized

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

Bed Screw

1935. Aluminum body, motor to front. Charles H'Doubler's thread
control mechanism in the machine head. Sold as General Electric.

Two Spool

Full

Rounded

Shoulder

Face Plate

Bed Screw

(Eldredge Two Spool) Uses small spool of thread in a canister
instead of a bobbin in a case. Later machines were electric using same
electrical parts as Rotary C.

1914/1916 onwards. Serial numbers begin with H, after inventor
Richard Hohmann.